Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1887-01-12
THE WICHITA COUNTRY.
A Trip on a Mississippi River
Steamer, Years Ago.
Luke West, tho Minstrel, Performs on the
Bost-An Eden-LIkc Plantation and an
Arcadisn viilage--A Bear Adventure.

|
devices for personal locomotion he has
never hit on any thing TO surpass-foI
the man Of leisure the Western steam.
er, as IL existed in the ant-railroad days,
thirty or forty years ago. The float
ing palaces, as some OF the finer ones
wcro designated, were then the only
means of travel on long journeys, and
there are numerous citizens of st. Louis
who can rememb when our levce was
lined with them three or four abreast,
from one end to the other. The ocean
steamer is moro commodious, stately
| and grand; but for solid comfort the
more humble Western boat, discounted
it by very large odds. On such craft
one could be as much at home as in his
own house. and for semi-invalid OF
one who from any cause was indolent
and wanted to kill time pleasantly,
there was no better euthanasia for old
chronos than a trip on a first-class
Western steamer. was suffering from
the restlcssness incident to a tedious
convalescence after long illness, and
uncertain where 10 seek relief, bethought
mo Of long cherished desire to sec
New Orleans and other Southern points,
and having concluded to make the trip,
considered myself lucky when found
my old friend, Captain Dickinson, with
his small but elegantly-fitted steamer,
the Princeton, just ready to start out.
Tho boat was built by Captain Dickin-
son, Darrah & Pomroy and the vener-
able Captain Clark, who was recently
harbor master at st. Louis, and was
especially designed for the navigation
Of the Southern rivers. On ths-her
first trip--there were just enough pas
sengers to fill her comfortably and one
could scarcely wish for a pleasanter set
of people for fellow-passengers. Many
of them were ladies, and among them
were several musicians, both vocal and
instrumental. There was a good piano
in the ladies' cabin, and several Of the
gentlemen had flutes, violins or guitars,
so thcro was plenty of good music to
cheer the passengers.
On the first night out the sky was
dark and lowering, with indications Of
storm. Long before il was shutdown
il was so dark in the cabin that the
lamps had to be lighted. The passen-
gers huddlcd together, most of them
looking anxious, and some Of them
frightened. Afloat in a storm would
have been new experience to nearly
all OF theta just at this juncture
ttartIing effect was produced by num-
Der OF hands filing in and proceeding TO
remove the furniture, take down the
chandeliers and put up side lights.
Every ono thought it was preparation
for danger and for moment a panic
seemed imminent. II was soon learned,
however, that the captain was only
having the cabin cleared for dance.
A good string band had been provided
for the occasion and soon tho pleasant
motion of the dance TO the merry music
banished all thought of tho threatened
storm, which, in fact, failed to material
ize. Among the gentlemen was one
who called himself Kelly. Ho was
remarkably fine violinst, and as he was
handsome and OF peculiarly agreeable
manners, he Immediately became q
general favorite. AS tho night grew on
and the dancing began to flag, Captain
D. camo into the cabin, announced that
there was an old negro on board, who
was somewhat noted for his ability as a
vocalist and dancer. and that, although
he was little uncouth, he would prob
ably afford some amusement for the
company, and II they cared to hear him
he would bring him in. Tho proposal
was eagerly embraced, and tho cap
tain introduced what appeared to be an
old and decrepit negro, bending under
the weight Of sixty or seventy years.
The ancient-looking colored brother
proceeded TO regale tho passengers
with "Old Black Joe" The Log Cabin
in tho Lane" my Old Kentucky
Home" and several other negro melo-
dies. with dancing interludes, fairly
surprising the company with the rare
excellence Of his performances. no one
doubling that he was what he purported
10 be. When he had concluded. it was
proposed TO take up collection for
him, but he said: mo, thankee gem
men and ladies. Dis old niger nebber
sings nor dances for money; hc has
little later and watermelon patch down
Souf, and his ole woman raises few
chickens and ducks. and dey gets all de
money dcy needs dat way" During
this performance, every one had no
ticcd the absence of Mr.. Kelly, and IL
was supposed he had retired TO his
statcroom; but soon after its conclusion
he reappeared and his numerous friends
condoled with him on his not having
witnessed it. He replied that he did
not regret it at all, as he had seen so much
Of that sort Of thing that it wearied
him. The fact was that the performer
was Kelly himself, who was sailing I'M
der pscudonym to conceal the fact
that he was the noted burnt-cork min
strcl, Luke West.
Next day the weather was as beauti-
full as the most fastidious could desire,
and it continued so during the remain
der of the trip. The delight of breath
ing the balmy air, frcshened by passing
over the water, and of sitting on the
guards or promenading on the hurricane
deck, viewing the beautiful scenery on
each side OF the river, is something to
be remembered. -Four or five DAYS thus
driftcd pleasantly away, with but few
incidents TO disturb the even tenor of
tho way. OF course the mischicvious
boy was on board, and like all of his
kind was always doing something dan
gerous TO himself or others. Having
observed the deckhands drawing wator
from the river in bucket attached to a
rope, no watched chance 10 try his
hand al the feat. Not understanding
the trick, he was very suddenly jcrked
overheard as soon as the bucket caught
in the water. Then there was n great
TODD. The steamer was stopped and n
boat sent out for his rescue, but he was
nowhere 10 be found. After the search
was abandoned, the boatmcn saw the
bucket drifting some distance of and
thought they might as we'll save that
anyhow, and on attempting TO pull It in.
very much to their surprise, found the
boy clinging to the bail. The buckle;